*JUDGEMENT OF THE LORD* Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.” *BACKGROUND/CONTEXT* In verses 3:2-4 God refined and purified the priests to make them holy, so again they can be able to rightfully perform their priestly duties. Now, in verse 3:5, God turns towards the entire nation of Israel and puts them on trial for His judgement. He uses the image of a courtroom where God is judge, chief witness, and the advocate for those who were oppressed by others. This metaphor of a courtroom is used frequently in Scripture, especially in the book of Jeremiah. “Let our *plea* for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant-because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us- that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful *witness* against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us.” *ON TRIAL* _“Then I will draw near to you for judgment.“_ Notice the “I”. This means that the LORD of Hosts is now speaking. As before, he is directly answering those who posed the sarcastic question “Where is the God of justice [or judgment]?” Using the image if a trial, God is judging those who had defamed his name, and violated his Law. The evidence had already been presented in Malachi 2:10-16, so the LORD is issuing the final verdict. The word “draw near,” _qâraḇ_ , means to approach for a cause. This evokes the image of a judge approaching the accused for proclamation of his “judgement,” _ mišp̱âṭ_, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree. Most believe that this passage is prophetic and will occur at the end of the Ages. Zec 13:8-9 tells us that only 1/3 of Israel will be saved, and Jeremiah calls it the Jacob’s trouble: “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.” Jer. 30:7. *QUICK TO JUDGE EVILDOERS* _”I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner”_ *A swift witness*: While YHWH may delay His coming for many years, when He acts, it will be swift and decisive. The sins mentioned have been constant problems throughout Israel’s history. Beginning with Moses, the prophets had continually warned the nation about these evils. We find that God himself is the “witness,”_‘êḏ_, which means that He is the one who provides evidence for the verdict. God’s testimony against his people includes five specific indictments for violations of the covenant. It can be broken down into moral issues and social justice issues. *Sorcerers*: Practitioners of the occult, such as witchcraft, black magic, and fortune-telling were widespread throughout the Near East, including Canaan. Such practices were strictly forbidden in the Law, (Deut. 18:10-14). *Adulterers*: Adultery refers to anyone who has sexual relations with the wife or betrothed of another man. Adultery can also be committed by women as well. It was forbidden in the law and was specifically mentioned in the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:14; Deut. 5:18). As we see in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi this continued to be a persistent problem in Israel. *Those Swearing Falsely*: This refers to perjurers, liars and ‘those who swear falsely’, especially under oath. It also was denounced by Moses in the Law (Lev 19:12) *Those who oppressed the disadvantaged*: workers, widows, and fatherless (orphans) in that society were particularly vulnerable to being taken advantage of by those more powerful than them. Mosaic law prohibited the withholding of wages from the laborer (Lev 19:13; Deut. 24:14), and guaranteed protection of the widow and orphan from mistreatment (Exod. 22:21- 22; Deut. 10:18; 24:17; 27:19) *Those who denied justice to foreigners*: While the ESV uses the word “sojourner”, the Hebrew word _gēr_, describes a person who has separated themselves from clan and homeland for any number of reasons. Thrust aside indicates that the foreigner has been denied justice in some manner. *AND DO NOT FEAR ME* _”and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”_ The final statement in this verse is basically the “common denominator” of the crimes described above. In other words, if you are doing these things, then it is obvious that you do not fear the LORD. *APPLICATION* When the final judgement comes, Rev 20:11-12 describes it this way: _“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”_ This is a truly ominous picture. Everyone who ever lived, will rise up and stand before the Throne of the Almighty. I mean EVERYONE. Rev 20:13 goes on to tell us: _“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.”_ We will all be judged for what we have done. Romans 6:23 tells us that “for the wages of sin is death.” If we have sinned, we are condemned to death. I don’t mean we will just die (remember those being judged are already dead. Rev 20:14 continues _“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”_ Reading a little further, Rev 21:8 tells us something which looks very similar to what we just studied in Malachi, but it fills in a little more detail about what happens to those who are found Guilty. _” But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”_ But is there hope? I purposely skipped over a few verses which answers that question. Rev 20:15 indeed provides hope: _” And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”_ Here we see a second book called the “book of life” What is that book? Rev 21:27 calls this book the “Lamb’s book of life”, and Rev 3:5 tells us: “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” While we don’t know everything about this Lambs book of Life, we do know several things: 1. Our names were written in it before the foundation of the Earth (Rev 13:8) 2. Not all Books in heaven are the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 20:12; Dan. 7:10) 3. Those who labored with Christ are found in the Book of Life (Phi 4:3) 4. One’s name can be blotted out of the Book of Life (Exod 32:32-33, Ps 69:28) 5. There was an Old Testament book of life (Exod 32:32-33, Ps 69:28, Isa 4:3, Mal 4:16-18) Now the question -- how do you make sure that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life? - In Hebrews 12 we are told that those “who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood” Or to be clearer, Rom 10:9-10 tells us “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."
🎉🎉🎉🎉❤
*JUDGEMENT OF THE LORD*
Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”
*BACKGROUND/CONTEXT*
In verses 3:2-4 God refined and purified the priests to make them holy, so again they can be able to rightfully perform their priestly duties. Now, in verse 3:5, God turns towards the entire nation of Israel and puts them on trial for His judgement. He uses the image of a courtroom where God is judge, chief witness, and the advocate for those who were oppressed by others.
This metaphor of a courtroom is used frequently in Scripture, especially in the book of Jeremiah. “Let our *plea* for mercy come before you, and pray to the Lord your God for us, for all this remnant-because we are left with but a few, as your eyes see us- that the Lord your God may show us the way we should go, and the thing that we should do.” Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. Behold, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your request, and whatever the Lord answers you I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you.” Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful *witness* against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the Lord your God sends you to us.”
*ON TRIAL*
_“Then I will draw near to you for judgment.“_
Notice the “I”. This means that the LORD of Hosts is now speaking. As before, he is directly answering those who posed the sarcastic question “Where is the God of justice [or judgment]?” Using the image if a trial, God is judging those who had defamed his name, and violated his Law. The evidence had already been presented in Malachi 2:10-16, so the LORD is issuing the final verdict. The word “draw near,” _qâraḇ_ , means to approach for a cause. This evokes the image of a judge approaching the accused for proclamation of his “judgement,” _ mišp̱âṭ_, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree.
Most believe that this passage is prophetic and will occur at the end of the Ages. Zec 13:8-9 tells us that only 1/3 of Israel will be saved, and Jeremiah calls it the Jacob’s trouble: “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.” Jer. 30:7.
*QUICK TO JUDGE EVILDOERS*
_”I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner”_
*A swift witness*: While YHWH may delay His coming for many years, when He acts, it will be swift and decisive. The sins mentioned have been constant problems throughout Israel’s history. Beginning with Moses, the prophets had continually warned the nation about these evils.
We find that God himself is the “witness,”_‘êḏ_, which means that He is the one who provides evidence for the verdict. God’s testimony against his people includes five specific indictments for violations of the covenant. It can be broken down into moral issues and social justice issues.
*Sorcerers*: Practitioners of the occult, such as witchcraft, black magic, and fortune-telling were widespread throughout the Near East, including Canaan. Such practices were strictly forbidden in the Law, (Deut. 18:10-14).
*Adulterers*: Adultery refers to anyone who has sexual relations with the wife or betrothed of another man. Adultery can also be committed by women as well. It was forbidden in the law and was specifically mentioned in the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:14; Deut. 5:18). As we see in Ezra, Nehemiah, and Malachi this continued to be a persistent problem in Israel.
*Those Swearing Falsely*: This refers to perjurers, liars and ‘those who swear falsely’, especially under oath. It also was denounced by Moses in the Law (Lev 19:12)
*Those who oppressed the disadvantaged*: workers, widows, and fatherless (orphans) in that society were particularly vulnerable to being taken advantage of by those more powerful than them. Mosaic law prohibited the withholding of wages from the laborer (Lev 19:13; Deut. 24:14), and guaranteed protection of the widow and orphan from mistreatment (Exod. 22:21- 22; Deut. 10:18; 24:17; 27:19)
*Those who denied justice to foreigners*: While the ESV uses the word “sojourner”, the Hebrew word _gēr_, describes a person who has separated themselves from clan and homeland for any number of reasons. Thrust aside indicates that the foreigner has been denied justice in some manner.
*AND DO NOT FEAR ME*
_”and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.”_
The final statement in this verse is basically the “common denominator” of the crimes described above. In other words, if you are doing these things, then it is obvious that you do not fear the LORD.
*APPLICATION*
When the final judgement comes, Rev 20:11-12 describes it this way: _“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”_
This is a truly ominous picture. Everyone who ever lived, will rise up and stand before the Throne of the Almighty. I mean EVERYONE. Rev 20:13 goes on to tell us: _“And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.”_
We will all be judged for what we have done. Romans 6:23 tells us that “for the wages of sin is death.” If we have sinned, we are condemned to death. I don’t mean we will just die (remember those being judged are already dead. Rev 20:14 continues _“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”_
Reading a little further, Rev 21:8 tells us something which looks very similar to what we just studied in Malachi, but it fills in a little more detail about what happens to those who are found Guilty. _” But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”_
But is there hope? I purposely skipped over a few verses which answers that question. Rev 20:15 indeed provides hope: _” And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”_ Here we see a second book called the “book of life” What is that book? Rev 21:27 calls this book the “Lamb’s book of life”, and Rev 3:5 tells us: “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”
While we don’t know everything about this Lambs book of Life, we do know several things:
1. Our names were written in it before the foundation of the Earth (Rev 13:8)
2. Not all Books in heaven are the Lamb’s book of life (Rev. 20:12; Dan. 7:10)
3. Those who labored with Christ are found in the Book of Life (Phi 4:3)
4. One’s name can be blotted out of the Book of Life (Exod 32:32-33, Ps 69:28)
5. There was an Old Testament book of life (Exod 32:32-33, Ps 69:28, Isa 4:3, Mal 4:16-18)
Now the question -- how do you make sure that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life? - In Hebrews 12 we are told that those “who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood” Or to be clearer, Rom 10:9-10 tells us “That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."